By Daily Press staff
The mad dash to obtain the coveted position of a junior lifeguard this summer will ensue here as hundreds of teenagers wait for their turn to try-out.
Last year, anxious hopefuls started arriving the afternoon before, and by 5 a.m. a line of 400 stretched four blocks from the Mira Costa High School swimming pool. But it’ll be different this year.
The first try-out swim for the popular Junior Lifeguards summer program will be held at 9 a.m. today at Santa Monica College. But camping overnight was forbidden — and lifeguards will be handing out wristbands between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., taking the youngsters by lottery. Anyone who arrives after 8:30 a.m. must take a place in line.
“Hopefully this will stop the mad rush,” said lifeguard spokesman Garth Canning, who added last year’s crowd disrupted a championship volleyball match and caused unneeded anxiety. “In order so that the schools aren’t negatively impacted by all this and also so the parents don’t have to sleep on the pavement all night... we have signs up and the Santa Monica police will be patrolling to make sure the neighborhood is not disrupted.”
Junior Guards is a five-week youth program operated on area beaches by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards. Canning said there is a spot for every youth that passes a timed swim test — but where is another issue. Kids prefer morning classes over afternoon classes, and certain beaches are more popular than others. Last year, 2,300 participated in Junior Guards on beaches from Zuma to Cabrillo.
Already classes are filling up from returning guards. There are still some slots in both morning and afternoon classes at Santa Monica, Venice and Will Rogers beaches but spaces are scant in some age groups. There are about 30 junior guards per age group, per beach — both morning and afternoon.
There are three categories of Junior Guards. The “A” group is for 14- to 17-year olds, the “B” group is for 12- and 13-year olds and the “C” group is for 9- to 11-year olds. To qualify, the A group members must swim 100 yards — four laps in a 25-yard pool — in 1:30 or less, B groupers must swim the same length in 1:40 or less and C groupers in 1:50 or less.
Participating in the summer program costs $340, which includes a uniform. For more information, visit www.lacountylifeguards.org or call (310) 939-7214.
— John Wood
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 1, 2004. Read the original PDF.